It wasn't pretty, but Marco Antonio Barrera got the job done against Rocky Juarez last night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Barrera, 63-4 (42), used an educated jab an his superior skills to give the green Juarez a boxing lesson, though at the cost of eliciting boos from the crowd of over 10,000 - many Mexican - fans who expected to see a war on Mexican Independence Day weekend. The judges scored the fight 115-113 (twice) and 117-111. Juarez, now 25-3 (18), did not apply the pressure that he brought in their first encounter, but that might be more a result of Barrera's superb ability to keep Juarez at bay than Juarez's desire to engage.

Barrera's clearer victory in the rematch sets the stage for another rematch with Manny Pacquiao, after the Pac-Man completes his trilogy with Mexican warrior Erik Morales in November. Barrera has stated that he would like to retire in 2007, so a chance at vindicating himself against his Filipino conqueror is no doubt high on his wish list. Barrera is at the twilight of his hall-of-fame career; too old and war-torn to engage in any more battles like the ones he staged with rival Morales, but old enough and wise enough to use his boxing skills to win fights. Barrera-Pacquiao II, should it come off next year, would be a classic case of boxer versus puncher. Pacquiao should still be favoured, but perhaps the "Baby-Faced Assassin" is saving his best for last.